Acute heart failure

Julija Braždžionytė, Andrius Macas, Audronė Mickevičienė

Clinic of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania

Key words: acute heart failure, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock.

Summary. There are still many discussions among physicians how heart failure should be defined. Despite many suggested traditional classifications, majority of definitions circulating in clinical practice and their appropriate usage remain unclear.

A new approach of acute heart failure classification suggested by European Society of Cardiology is presented in the article. Diagnostic strategy of acute heart failure as well as recommendations for prehospital and inpatient treatment of its forms (pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock) are presented in the article.

Application of new medications, recently introduced to the clinical practice for treatment of acute heart failure, is discussed.

Correspondence to A. Macas, Clinic of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eivenių 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: andrius.macas@kmuk.lt; julbra@kmu.lt

Received 2 May 2006, accepted 31 July 2006